"Ow, ow ow!" I hiss as I try and walk on my ankle. The swelling has gone down and I know I need to start walking again soon. There was a lot of pressure from the group for me to start helping out around the farm but I can't seem to get back on my feet. Literally

I took a deep breath and stumbled across my room from the bed to the door. I made it. I think proudly, I am recovering. I was genuinely impressed with myself. I had managed to heal myself without the help of a medical professional. Maybe we really could do this. We were surviving.

The room was lit beautifully by the sun rays that were displayed all over the room. I grabbed a blanket off of the old mattress and slowly walked down the stairs to the living room. After I nearly stumbled and recovered, I was able to make it down to where everyone was huddled playing the same game of cards for what had to have been the fiftieth time.

"Oaks!" Hudson quickly stood and walked over to help me. "You should be in bed still!"

I pushed him away and walked over to the coffee table. "Deal me in."

Ashley laughed as she tossed some cards my way. "We're glad you're back."

"Here, take my place." Ravyn got up and left the room. She was still upset with me. I couldn't blame her. But believe me, whatever she wanted to do to me, I was already doing to myself.

I sighed and followed her. She walked out onto the back porch and sat down on the swing. "Hey." I said nervously.

"Why'd you follow me?" She grumbled. "I don't want to be around you."

I sat down on the wooden panels in front of her. "I just want to talk."

"About what? You killed your father. I don't think there is much more to talk about. Murder is murder. No excuses."

I rolled my eyes in a poor attempt to fight the tears. I may not have her as a friend anymore but I do still have my pride. "You don't know the whole story." I told her.

"What could justify what you did?" She yelled, "We are all wanted for murder now because of you! I can never go back to Hackson. I can never have my old life back! As if my parents didn't already hate me enough..."

I got up and stood in her face. "Do you want to know why?" I interrogated.

"You have two minutes but I guarantee you won't change my mind."

"I don't even need two seconds." I said confident in my reason.

She pulled away from me. "Go."

"I was abused." I said. "And he wanted to do the same to Chelsea. It was self-defense."

Ravyn looked down at her hands and then up at me. "You have no proof." She said. It broke my heart. We may not have been on good terms but she was still one of the most important people in my life. She should be able to take me at my words.

"I have proof." I assured her. I pulled up my shirt and showed her the bruise that spread from my waist to the bottom of my left breast. I rolled up my sleeves and showed her the cuts and burns on my right arm. When I pulled up my shorts and showed her the bruises in between my thighs she gasped.

"Your dad did this?" She stared at the bruises, "Why didn't you ever say anything?"

I put all of my clothes back where they belonged. "I wanted to believe he was the dad I used to think he was. I wanted to believe he could change. But when he went after Chelsea, I had no choice. I had managed to keep this side of our dad away from her for years. I never wanted her to be exposed to that. Now that we've been caught, I worry about where she is now. Does she hate me?"

"I don't know." Ravyn shook her head. "I'm sorry I reacted this way. I should have listened to you. I should have had some faith."

"It's okay." I told her. "You didn't know. I didn't want you to."

We walked back into the house together. "All good in girl world?" Noah asked sarcastically. Hudson snickered at his side.

"Getting there." I smiled at Ravyn.

"Well, if you're really feeling better, I have something to show you." Hudson helped me as I carefully walked out of the house. "You sure you can make it? It's kind of a long walk."

"If not I guess you're stuck carrying me." I jokingly winked. He seemed to blush. I rolled my eyes and started walking. "So, where to?"

He pointed towards the grove of peach trees he had mentioned earlier and led the way. I had no trouble walking except for the shooting pain in my ankle every time I stepped on it wrong. I'm fine.

"This barn isn't the exact same as the one we were staying at before." He warned. "Yes it's abandoned, but it actually has some stuff in it. It's kind of interesting." He pushed the door opened and motioned for me to enter. The barn was structured very similarly to the old one except for the fact that it had about six boxes in the front and a rope swing. It was dimly lit by a window up in the hayloft. Small webs littered the corners of the old barn. My instincts immediately drew me towards the boxes in the back. He was more attracted towards the rope swing.

Inside of the old boxes were plenty of hats and shawls. I tossed one of the shawls across my back and laid one of the large and decorated floral hats on my head, and said: "Hiya darling." Hudson immediately started laughing when I turned around. "You seem like you could use a nice glass of sweet tea on this nice summer day." I had to say, I was nailing the southern belle accent.

"Why yes, madam I could. I have also heard that you grow the finest peaches in all of Georgia here on your farm. I can't leave before I try one of them." He smiled. "Thank you, miss."

I curtsied to him. "Why it's just southern hospitality, my dear boy."

He busted out laughing. "Dear boy?"

"Oh shut up!" I whacked him with the hat. He threw the hat back over to the boxes and gestured for me to try out the rope swing.

"No way. I already have one injury. We don't have the medical ability to treat another." I told him.

"Oh what's the worst that could happen?" Hudson hopped up onto the knot on the bottom. "Give me a push."

Curiosity took over and I rushed to his side and gave him a push which sent him swinging higher than he must have expected. He screamed in shock as he swung high and low. I couldn't help but laugh at his feminine sounding screech.

"If I ever get down from here I'm going to get y-" He didn't get to finish his sentence before he fell face first into the dirt.

"Oh my god are you okay?" I crouched at his side, my laughter turning to fear.

He rolled over and groaned. "How do I look?" He winked. He's fine. I rolled my eyes.

"You scared me."

He sat up next to me and said, "Sorry." I could tell he wasn't. He was enjoying this. I noticed a drop of blood pooling on his lip.

"Hold on," I lifted my finger and wiped the blood away. We made eye contact and time stopped. For some odd reason I had butterflies in my stomach. He leaned in, and just as our lips were about to touch, I pulled away. "We should probably get heading back." I said.

Why did I stop it? Stupid stupid stupid!

"Yeah. Yeah, totally." He stood up and reached his hand towards mine to help me.

"Thank you."

"Come on, let's go." He grabbed my hand and we left the barn.

This time when he looked at me, I blushed. Butterflies fluttered around in my stomach again. I looked away to smile. Was I catching feelings for Hudson Boothe? Earlier, he had looked at me in a way that said he felt the same way. I laughed to myself. No way, it must just be a figment of my imagination. I wasn't worthy of his love.